Calandagan Bypasses York to Focus Season Entirely on Japan Cup Defense

The champion will rest through the European summer and miss the Juddmonte International; the primary goal for Aga Khan Studs will be to capture Tokyo's showpiece event once again, where he will attempt to become the first back-to-back winner since Gentildonna

CHANTILLY, France (Special for Turf Diario).— Calandagan will not return to the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) this year. The extraordinary stayer trained by Francis-Henri Graffard will enjoy a well-deserved break following a demanding European campaign, concentrating all his efforts on one supreme goal: defending his title in the Japan Cup (G1).

The 5-year-old standout, crowned World Horse of the Year in 2025, was listed among the prospective runners for York's signature event following a commendable runner-up effort behind Kalpana (Study of Man) in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1). However, his name was absent at the final forfeit stage, with Aga Khan Studs confirming the decision stems from a carefully structured roadmap tailored for Tokyo.

"He came out of the King George very well, but we all felt he needed a break. It didn't seem right to ask for another major effort so soon at York," explained Nemone Routh, racing manager for the operation's French division.

She added that the gelding will enjoy a summer holiday before initiating his preparation for another journey to Japan.

"He is going to take a summer break with the idea of pursuing an international campaign whose target, almost certainly, will be the Japan Cup once again," she affirmed.

The decision marks a departure from the strategy executed in 2025, when Calandagan traveled to Tokyo following a victory in the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot. This time around, even a defense of his Ascot title in October remains contingent on several factors, most notably ground conditions.

"We will see how he returns to training. He is a horse that gets match-fit quickly, but we are mindful that last year we got lucky with the track conditions at Ascot, and that isn't something you can count on repeating," Routh noted.

The connections are determined to avoid repeating the scenario from the Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom, where testing, heavy ground severely compromised his performance.

"After seeing what happened at Epsom, if the Champion Stakes were to be run on very soft ground, I am not sure we would want to put him through that as a prep for Japan. If the ground happens to be good and he is in peak form, we could potentially run there again, but at this stage, those are merely possibilities," she added.

A prospective bid in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) was also effectively ruled out.

"It comes up too early on the calendar and doesn't fit into our plans. If the main goal is the Japan Cup, that race doesn't help our cause, and it would also deny him the summer break we feel is necessary," she stated.

His remarkable victory last year in Tokyo, where he became the first French-trained horse to win the Japan Cup since 1987, left the team fully convinced to repeat the experience.

"The Japan Cup is an extraordinary race and immensely difficult, but he loved the track and handled the travel exceptionally well. We know making that trip is no small feat—you only have to look at how tough it was for the Japanese runners traveling to Ascot for the King George. You need a horse with world-class quality, but also the right mindset to cope with that kind of journey," Routh explained.

The racing manager also highlighted the sheer magnitude of his 2025 performance: "Francis always says that last year he went over as the best horse in the world, broke the track record, and still only won by a head. That shows you just how demanding that race really is," she noted.

While acknowledging other international options like the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) or the major events in Hong Kong, she made it clear that Tokyo remains the sole focus.

"If you target the Japan Cup, you have to make it your main objective. You cannot arrive there on the heels of other demanding international trips if you truly intend to win. As of today, our plan is for him not to race again until Tokyo," she concluded.

Should he succeed in defending his crown, Calandagan would become only the third horse in history to win the Japan Cup twice, and the first since the legendary Gentildonna swept back-to-back editions in 2012 and 2013—a milestone worthy of the French champion's immense talent.